Liberty and justice for wizards and magical creatures throughout the Harry Potter series, does not always consists of fair trials. When tracing this theme throughout the Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, we are introduced to the social inequalities of both wizards and the Magic of Ministry. When looking at the characters that suffer through such action, we witness Sirius Black’s imprisonment, Buckbeak’s trial, and Winky’s false accusation. When Harry and others are confronted by the truth of the Ministry, it is suggested that the wizarding justice system does not implement justice, but rather display an injustice approach. We witness the ministry corrupt and more concerned with being dramatic on punishing supposed criminals than allowing them a fair trial.
As we read through the middle of book number three we get a better understanding of why Black’s incarceration lasted him twelve years in Azkaban. With the rumors of a man who’s believed by the entire wizarding world to have been part of the movement of Death Eaters and Voldemort’s right-hand man, his sentence was black mailed for supposedly murdering innocent Muggles, as well as, being the reason why James and Lily Potter died. Black never got a chance to go to trial for his supposed crimes and instead was sent to Azkaban immediately, where he could have possibly gotten the chance to convince everyone that he did not do it. However, this showed that the Ministry was too concerned with keeping their image to even give him a simple trial after the initial crime. This presents that the criminal justice system has failed Sirius and Harry’s chance to have another guardian.
In addition to the wrong accusations made, a second wrongful act that is addressed is when Buckbeak the hippogriff is convicted for hurting Draco Malfoy. After a lesson presented from Hagrid on the appropriate way to approach a hippogriff, Malfoy ignores the whole concept which leads him to get injured from Buckbeak. This news soon travels to Lucius Malfoy where his complaint directly approaches the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. With Harry, Hermione, and Ron witnessing the interaction between Malfoy and Buckbeak, the fault is lied within Malfoy. However, since his father has power he wins over the committee and his statement is looked to be resolved rather than giving Buckbeak the chance. This results in Harry, Ron, and Hermione to fight back and help Hagrid build his case to prove Buckbeak’s innocence to the committee. Yet, with finding out that the committee is not on their side, it soon results to sentencing Buckbeak to death, without evidence and the trios witness, the testimony suggests that Buckbeak is being wrongfully punished for his natural and known quality being a hippogriff.
The last key factor, being Winky, is given a false accusation when we are introduced to book number four. Towards the beginning of Goblet of Fire when all Weaslys, including Harry and Hermoine go to the quidditch world cup they are all soon disturbed by the screams of people running to find out that Death Eaters have arrived. When getting separated, Harry looks up to see the dark mark in the sky and his wand in the hands of a house elf. Winky, who was there with Barty Crouch Jr. is stunned holding possession of the wand, while Crouch hid under an invisibility cloak. Accusations are then made against her from Barty Crouch senior who is belittling her and is not giving her a chance to explain what happened. This leads to her release as the Crouch’s house elf, yet, with this release soon leads Winky to dive straight into depression and addiction for alcohol. This shows how there is injustice within magical creatures as well.